Method and apparatus for treating dilating the ethmoid infundibulum

Abstract

A method of dilating an infundibular space within the human head includes directing at least a distal portion of an elongate member of a medical device into a nasal cavity of the human head, the distal portion including a piercing tip and an expandable portion. The piercing tip is directed through tissue of an uncinate process or tissue near an uncinate process and into an ethmoid infundibulum and the expandable portion of the distal end is expanded within the ethmoid infundibulum.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of dilating an infundibular space within the human head, the method comprising:
 directing at least a distal portion of an elongate member of a medical device into a nasal cavity of the human head, the distal portion including a piercing tip and an expandable portion; 
 directing the piercing tip through tissue of an uncinate process or through tissue near the uncinate process and into an ethmoid infundibulum; 
 expanding the expandable portion of the distal end within the ethmoid infundibulum; and 
 detaching the expandable portion from the medical device and withdrawing the elongate member while leaving the expandable portion within the human head. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is advanced into the nasal cavity via a nostril. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the expandable portion is a fully compliant inflatable balloon. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a balloon catheter and the piercing tip is a needle having an outside diameter of at least 0.016 inches or larger. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the needle has an outside diameter of 0.028 inches. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is a stent. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion further includes a pharmaceutical agent. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion further includes a stopping member configured to limit penetration of the piercing tip into tissue. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further including injecting a pharmaceutical agent into the ethmoid infundibulum. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agent is injected through the medical device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the distal portion is made from silicone. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable portion is made from silicone.